UFC

What a crazy price on Under. ...

Imanol Rodriguez has big power in both hands...

Ateba Gautier is pure power and explosiveness...

Who has the edge between two high-level strikers?...

I think the biggest edge in this fight is Rodolfo Vieira’s grappling/submission game. Robert Bryczek is more dangerous on the feet, but the striking can go either way over 15 minutes. I’m going to take Vieira to get the fight to the ground and pull off an early submission win.

Mehemmedeli Osmanli is a confident young southpaw striker who hunts for the finish. In his 12-1 pro career, Osmanli owns ten wins by either knockout or submission. He throws a heavy straight left cross, explosive kicks, and has a slick Ju-Jitsu game. Ilimbek Akylbek is a talented wrestler who can wear his opponents down with repeated takedowns and clinch work, but I don’t see his style working against Osmanli. The 10-3 Akylbek was knocked out in all three of his pro losses. Osmanli’s submission skills will thwart Akylbek’s grappling attack, and his raw aggression will lead him to a win inside the distance.

Melissa Amaya showed incredible toughness on this past season of 'The Ultimate Fighter', battling through multiple injuries to earn her shot at a UFC contract. In her last fight Amaya refused to tap out while in deep armbar submission attempts, recovered, and then stopped her opponent in a gritty win. Amaya’s pace, mixed attack, and determination make her a tough out. Tina Black is the more technical striker with her lateral footwork and counter-punching, but she can be too patient at times. Black has improved since her loss on ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ back in 2021, but I still don't trust her as a sizable favorite. Amaya can beat more skilled opponents with sheer effort and heart, so I’ll back her as the underdog. 



I feel compelled to take the Under 4.5 rounds in this “crossroads” type of matchup. The rising prospect Raul Rosas Jr. will be the more explosive athlete and the more dangerous puncher with his 18 year youth edge. However, Raoni Barcelos is still a crafty veteran and a talented submission artist at 39 years old. I can see this fight ending inside the distance in multiple ways. Rosas Jr.’s athleticism could overwhelm Barcelos early, and Barcelos could submit Rosas Jr. if he drags him into deep waters and forces him to fatigue in his first five round main event.

Raul Rosas is a very good grappler, and if he can keep this fight on the mat, then he has the edge. Raoni Barcelos is a lot older, but he is the more well-rounded fighter, and he is good on the mat himself. If he can use his wrestling defense to keep this fight standing, then I think he'll rack up points with his striking and steal a decision. I’ll side with the underdog here, and I think he is live for a TKO as well.

These two fought in Montel Jackson's UFC debut at UFC 227 and Ricky Simon won by unanimous decision. But Jackson has had the better career overall since then. The 34-year-old Simon looks rather shot with two wins in his past seven and he'll be at a nearly seven-inch reach disadvantage. The only chance Simon really would seem to have is to get this on the ground. Jackson is a monster for 135-pound bantamweight division. Tapology ranks Jackson eight spots better in the division.

Norma Dumont is the better striker here, but Ailin Perez is the better wrestler. Whoever keeps this fight where they want it should get her hand raised. I like the wrestling-heavy pace Perez sets, and if she can land 5+ takedowns, she'll keep enough control time to win a unanimous decision.

Last December, Van won the flyweight title from Pantoja when the long-reigning champion suffered an injury within 30 seconds of the first round. Although the outcome was disappointing for both parties, the 24-year-old Van showed his mettle with a fifth-round stoppage over Tatsuro Taira in May for his first title defense in perhaps the greatest flyweight title fight in UFC history. Now, the 36-year-old Pantoja is healthy and prepared for deserved rematch, but we believe Van, who has showcased excellent versatility to augment his world-class striking, will prevail in this rematch. Pantoja will go down as one of the UFC's all-time greatest flyweights, but this fight will illustrate that the torch has been officially passed.

Wow, only -170 for Over 0.5 rounds. In all seriousness, I'd last Over 0.5 rounds simply because I'd be running around the Octagon waiving my arms and squawking like a neutered chicken to confuse the opponent until the 2:30 mark when I then get hospitalized. I'm fairly certain Sean Sharaf won't be a chicken against rising star Gable Stevenson, who has finished all four opponents in Round 1, but Sharaf got to Round 2 in both career losses. All I'm asking.

Alexandre Pantoja is extremely motivated to prove that he lost his belt on a fluke. Pantoja was seeking his 5th consecutive flyweight title defense before injuring his elbow 26 seconds into their first fight. At just 24 years old Joshua Van has some of the best MMA boxing in the game, but he was taken down 8 times by Tatsuro Taira in his first flyweight title defense. Although Van escaped from top mount on multiple occasions, I think Pantoja will capitalize where Taira could not. Van’s grappling defense is improving, but I favor Pantoja’s back-takes and aggressive pressure style. Pantoja’s relentlessness and fight I.Q make him the second greatest flyweight of all-time (behind Demetrious Johnson). I'm forced to pick him as the underdog.

Josh Van is one of the fastest, highest-paced strikers in UFC history, and I’ll take him to beat the entire division on the feet. Alexandre Pantoja is a good striker too, but he won’t be able to hang with Van for 5 rounds on the feet. I think it’s the opposite on the ground, where Pantoja could dominate or finish with a submission in any round. I am going to side with Pantoja to get his belt back and set up a trilogy fight down the road.